Sound emitting device



June 11, 1963 c. R. I UcHslNGl-:R 3,092,927

SOUND EMITTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 25, 1961 8 INVENTOR. |6 2O f 46 32CHARLES R. LUCHSINGER *i ATTORNEYS United States Patent O York FiledJan. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 84,300 9 Claims. (Cl. 46-34) This inventionrelates to a greeting card, display device or greeting folder in generaland more particularly relates to a sound producing Igreeting card,display device or greeting folder which when folded lies flat and whenopened emits sounds of a predetermined characteristic.

Various attempts have been -made to provide display devices, greetingcards or folders emitting sounds and noises in conjunction with thevisual presentation normally provided. Heretofore, clickers, snappersand whistlers have been used with such devices to make noise or soundwhen actuated in some manner, such as when compressed. However, thesetypes of noisemakers are not satisfactory when used in -greeting cardsor devices intended to be sent via mail, since they are bulky, andordinarily prevent the greeting card, device or folder from lying atwhen folded, and also require a heavier paperboard to be used to preventthe individual sheets from ltearing when the noisemaker is operated.Further, these noisemakers are relatively expensive and not ordinarilyself-actuating, but require a separate actuating movement of the userfor operation such as compressing the noisemaker. Additionally, thecharacteristics of `the sound obtained from these noisemakers arelimited by the type of device and are difficult to incorporate in thecard or device.

Therefore, it is an object `of the present invention to provide agreeting card, display device or greeting folder which will emit a soundof a predetermined characteristic automatically when the lgreeting cardis opened.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a greetingcard or greeting folder made from a single sheet of material, such aspaper, cardboard or the like, which lies flat when folded and may beinserted in an ordinary mailing envelope and which provides sound whenthe card is opened without a separate actuating effort by the user.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a displaydevice which emits sounds of various pitches or characteristics uponopening the device.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a greetingcard which emits a sound whenever opened or closed and whichcharacteristic of the sound can be easily varied.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a greeting card,greeting folder or other type display device producing sounds ofpredetermined characteristic requiring no special sound producingdevices or special means of mounting such devices.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a greetingcard which accomplishes all of the above and which is inexpensive,simple and economical to manufacture, positive in operation and durablein use.

Other and more detailed objects of the invention will be more apparentwhen the following description is considered in connection with theannexed drawings in which:

FEGURE l is a perspective, elevational view of a greeting card inaccordance with the present invention showing the panels of the cardseparated slightly;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view with the card in semiextended position;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional View taken along line 3 3 in FIGURE l;

3,692,927. Patented June 11, 1963A FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view ofthe card similar to that of FIGURE 3 and showing the card in itssemiext-ended Iposition; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to that shown in FIGURE 4showing the card in its fully extended position.

Referring now to the drawings, a greeting card is shown embodying thefeatures of this invention, which is made from a single sheet of paper,cardboard or the like 12. Sheet 12 is advantageously scored twicetransversely at 14 yand 16 intermediate of its side edges to dividesheet 12 into three integral panels or sections 18, and 22. As shown,panel 22 forms the front face and panels 26 and 1S form the innersurfaces of card 10 and abut when card 10 is folded. The upper and loweredges of panel 1S are cut or notched adjacent fold-line 14, such as bygrooves or cuts 24 and 26 on the upper edge and 28 and 39 on the loweredge. Grooves on the upper and lower edge receive the sound ornoise-making element, which in the embodiment illustrated is a rubberband 32. The depths of these cuts and their longitudinal doublethickness with a continuous front face.

positioning may vary as will be discussed hereinbelow.

Panels 18 and 2G have a pair of spaced apart, longi- -tudinallyextending slits or cuts therein 34 and 36, which intercept fold line 14and are shown parallel. Disposed between corresponding ends of slits 34and 36 are transverse score `or fold lines 38 and 40. As shown, scoreline 3S is in panel 20 and score line 40 is in panel 18. Slits 34 and 36and fold lines 38 and 40 define an area or flap 41. Flap 41 is dividedby a score or fold line 46 into a pair `of panels 42 and 44. Fold line46 is contained within a vertical plane passing through fold line 14 andis parallel therewith.

The Card is formed by folding sheet 12 about fold line 16 so that 4therear faces of panels 20 and 22 abut and the front of card 1i? is theforward face of panel 22. The rear faces of panels 20 and 22 are securedtogether in some convenient manner, such as by placing adhesivetherebetween or stapling. When panels 20 and 22 are folded las shown inFIGURE 2, the left hand panel is of This is desirable since the front ofthe card can be fully utilized for printing thereon a message or designor other indicia. While a double thickness as yshown is desirable, it isnot essential to the present invention.

Sheet 12 is further folded transversely on fold line 14 so that panels18 and 20 abut as shown in FIGUREl. Panels -42 and 44 are lfoldedoutwardly, in an opposite direction along fold lines 38, 40 and 46. Foldline 46 is directed toward the outer transverse edges of panels 1S Iand20. Rubber band 32 is placed in a notch in the upper and lower edges ofpanel 18 and as shown in FIG- URE 2 is positioned in notches 26 and 30and stretches over panel 44.

By folding card, 10, along fold lines 14 and 16, as shown in FIGURE l,card 1G can be conveniently mailed in a convention-al envelope. r[Therear surface of panel 42 is juxtaposed against the rear surface of panel44, so that card 10 li, relatively iiat in its closed position, aspartly illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3. In this folded position, rubberband 32 is urged into position along fold line 40 and is maintainedtherebetween panel 44 and panel 1S, as indicated in FIGURES l and 3 andby dashedv line 32a in FIGURE 2. In this position rubber band 32 is intension or sn'etched.

When the card or folder is unfolded to the position shown in FIGURE 2,panels 42 and 44 are drawn inwardly towards panels 20 and 18respectively. With panel 44 being drawn inwardly towards panel 18, thenatural pull of tensioned rubber band 32 causes rubber band 32 lto movealong the surface of panel 44 towards fold line 46 in the direction ofarrow 50 as illustrated in FIGURE 4. The positions of rubber band 32illustrated by dashed line 32a and solid lines 32 in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5are illustrative of three positions through which the rubberlbandi-moves during the normal `card unfolding process. The movement ofthe rubber Kband across the surface of panel 44 provides sound havin-gcharac- .teristics which are determined in part by the size and tensionof the rubber band and the dimensions of panel 44. This sound iscontinuously emitted during the movement of the rubber band. lInproducing sound, panel 44 acts asa sounding board when the card isopened and the at surfaces of Vthe rubber band, which is preferablysquare shaped, acts as the sound inducer as the rubber band rolls acrosspanel 44. l Y I In the cards normally open or unfolded position as seenin FIGURE 5, rubber band 32 comes to rest on surface 4'4 adjacentfold-line 46 and panels 42 and 44 remain spaced from panels 20 and 18respectively. Thus, rubber band 32 is maintained on panel 44 and fiap 41is folded in the proper direction when card is refolded. In refoldingcard 10, panels 42 and 44 move outwardly and band 32 moves in adirection opposite to that shown by arrow 50 and panels and band assumethe positions as seen'in FIGURE 3. Rubber -band 32 in moving along thesurface of panel 44 again emits sound or noise. In its closed positionrubber band 32 is at rest along foldline 40 between panel 18 and panel44.

'Ilhe characteristic of the sound emitted by the movement of rubber band32 can be varied depending upon the tension and thickness of band 32 orthe dimensions of panel 44'. An easy manner of varying the tension is toprovide a series of notches along the upper and lower edges of panel 18between fold-lines 14 and a plane con- 4 member was shown mounted on therear panel 18, since this has been found to be the most advantageous inallowing fuller use of the front panel. However, the sound producingelement may be mounted on panel 20. Further, a sound panel may beprovided for actuating the sound emitting member by moving away Ifromthe card panels when the card is opened.

There is thus shown a greeting card or greeting folder with anl outsideIface provided with design, illustrative material or printed matter ofsome type and having some type of sound, emitted automatically upon theopening and closing of the card, yet which card can be formedinexpensively of paperboard or paper and mailed in its n folded positionin an ordinary and conventional type envelope. The sound producingmember is inexpensive and requires no special further acts of thereceiver to actuate. Y

Since many apparently differing structures may be readily devised bythose skilled in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention, it is understood that the foregoing description isillustrative only, the scope of the invention being defined solely bythe claims granted Y to me.

Y said first and second panels intersecting said fold-line,

taining fold-line 40. Thus, if the rubber band 32 was l between parallelplanes passing respectively through foldline and notches 24 and 28.While only two notches along the upper and lower edges off panel 18 areshown, more can be provided to provide further versatility.Additionally, the distance of the notch from fold-line 40 will determinethe duration of the sound emitted. Thus, notches closest to fold-line 14provide the longest roll and notches closest to fold-line 40 provide theshortest; however, if the notches are too close to fold 40 the rubberband may fail to move at all.

A further manner of varying the tension of rubber band 32 and hence thecharacteristic of the sound emitted is to vary the length or depth ofthe notches along these edges. a greater depth than notches 24 and 28.Still another mannerof varying the tension of rubber band 32 is tor makepanels 42 and 44 larger soY that fold-line 40 is Ycloser Ito the outertransverse edge of panel 18. However, ifA

panels 42 and 44 are made too large, stiffer material must be Iused-to'pr'event them from collapsing under the inwardl entire rubber band.Notches or cuts were shown for maintaining the rubber band in positionduring operation. Other means .fori maintaining the band-in position maybe'used, such -as fastening therband to the rear surface of panel 18.Also, if Ithe rubber band is not placed in great tension, no specificholding means may be necessary, except possibly roughening the upper andlower edges of the panel, or using varied ridges on the edges.

Whilesound panels 42 and 44 were shown cut fromA panels 20 and 18respectively, separate sheets of material can be mounted on panels 18and 20 to fold in a similar manner as panels 42 and Y44.V Also, thesound emitting As shown in FIGURE 2, notches 26 and 30 haveV second andthird transverse fold-lines in said first and second panelsVrespectively between corresponding ends of said slits, first and secondareas in said first and second panels respectively defined by said slitsand said foldlines, said first'and second areas foldable away from saidVfirst and second panels respectively when said card is closed, saidfirst panel having a notch in its upper and lower edges adjacent saidfirst fold-line, and elastic means received in each of said notches andoverlying and abutting said first area when the card is in its openposition, said elastic means being adapted to be stretched and beingjuxtaposed along said second fold-line in said first panel when saidcard is closed, and being adapted to be urged along the surface of saidrst area and returning to overlie said first area in response to theopening of said card, whereby said elastic means is vibrated whilemoving along the surface of said first area in response to the openingand closing of said card and thereby emits sound.

2. A greeting card in accordance with claim 1 having a plurality ofnotches extending along the upper and lower edges of said first panel,said notches being of varying depth to vary the tension of said elasticmeans in its stretched position.

3. A greeting card of flexible material comprising a first and secondpanel connected by a first fold-line and readily foldable thereabout toopen and closed positions, said panels having a pair of spaced apartslits therein extending from said rst panel across said first fold-lineand into said second panel, second and third fold-lines extendingbetween corresponding ends of said slits in said rst and second panelsrespectively, said slits and said second and third fold-lines defining aflap, a fourth foldline on said `flap and axially aligned with saidfirst foldline when said first and second panels are coplanar, said iiapbeing foldable along said fourth fold-line in a direction opposite tosaid first fold-line when said card is folded -to its closed position,whereby closing said card collapses said flap in an outwardly extendingposition to allow said card to lie fiat, and an extendable resilientmeans supported by said first panel adjacent said first fold-line andoverlying and abutting said flap when said card is in its open position,said resilient means being slidably transposed across said ap and beingadapted to engage said second fold-line in response to closing of saidcard and being extended thereby, said resilient means responding to theopening of said card by slidably returning to overlying said flap andemitting a sound of a predetermined characteristic.

4. A greeting card of flexible material comprising a iirst and secondpanel connected by a Ifirst fold-line and readily foldable thereabout toopen and closed positions, said panels having a pair of spaced apartslits therein extending from said rst panel across said tirst foldlineand into said second panel, second and third foldlines extending betweencorresponding ends of said slits in said rst and second panelsrespectively, said slits and said second and third fold-lines defining aap, a fourth fold-line on said iiap and axially aligned with said firstfold-line when said rst and second panels are coplanar, said ap beingfoldable along said fourth fold-line in a direction opposite to saidfirst fold-line when said panels are folded to one of said positions,and an extendable resilient means carried by said first panel adjacentsaid first fold-line and overlying and abutting said flap when saidpanels are in the other of said positions, said resilient means beingslidably transposed across said iiap and engaging said second fold-linein response to folding said card to said one position and being extendedthereby, said resilient means slidably returning to overlying said flapand emitting a sound of a predetermined characteristic in response tofolding said panels to the other of said positions.

5. A display device comprising sheet material, scored and foldable alonga panel fold-line to provide a pair of connecting panels, a flap havingopposite ends hingedly mounted on a respective panel and extendingacross the panel fold-line, said flap having a fold-line responsive tothe closing of said device for folding said iiap in a direction oppositefrom said panel fold-line, whereby said device is adapted to lie dat inits closed position, said foldline lying in a plane containing saidpanel fold-line when said panels .are in their coplanar position, and arubber band mounted on opposite edges of one of said panels adjacentsaid panel fold-line land in its normal position adapted to overlie andabut said ap when said device is open, said rubber band being slidablymoved across said ap and extended thereby in response to the folding ofsaid tiap during closing of said device, said rubber band maintained insaid extended position while said device is being closed and emittingsound in moving across said ap in returning to its normal position whensaid device is opened.

6. A device as claimed in claim wherein said panel mounting for saidrubber band contains means for varying the extendability of said rubberband for controlling the characteristic of the emitted sound.

7. A device comprising first and second panels connected by a score lineand readily foldable thereabout to open and closed positions, and meansfor emitting sound responsive to the folding of said panels, saidsoundemitting means comprising an area hingedly mounted to and moveablewith respect to said first panel along a second fold line, said arealying substantially adjacent said first panel when said panels areopened and being adapted to be urged outwardly from said first panelwhen said panels are folded to closed position, and elastic meanscarried by said iirst panel and overlying and abutting said area whensaid panels are in open position, the portion of said elastic meansabutting said area being included yin a plane passing through said panelscore line, said elastic means being adapted to be stretched by movementof said area in response to the folding of said panels to abuttingclosed position and adapted to be relaxed and returned to its originalposi-tion, said movement of said elastic means providing sound of apredetermined characteristic in accordance to the tension of saidelastic means.

8. A greeting card comprising first and second panels connected by ascore line and foldable thereabout, and means for emitting soundresponsive -to the folding of said panels, said sound-emitting meanscomprising an area hingedly mounted to and movable with respect to saidiirst panel, said area being normally substantially adjacent said firstpanel, means responsive to the folding of said panels for urging saidarea outwardly from said first panel, and elastic means mounted on saidrst panel and overlying and abutting the outer surface of said area inits normal position, said elastic means being adapted to be slidablymoved along said area by the out- Ward movement of said area in responseto the folding of said panels and being relaxed and returning along saidarea in response to said panels being refolded, said movement of saidelastic means along the surface of said area providing sound.

9. A greeting card comprising two sections having their adjacent edgessecured together by a hinge portion and foldable thereon intooverlapping relation, a foldable flap formed by free central portions ofsaid sections adjacent said hinge portion, and an elastic means carriedby one of said -sections and having a portion thereof extending acrosssaid one sections corresponding foldable flap, said portion of saidelastic means being substantially parallel to said hinge portion andadapted to be stretched by the outward movement of said flap in responseyto the folding of said sections.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,609,639 Barker Sept. 9, 1952

9. A GREETING CARD COMPRISING TWO SECTIONS HAVING THEIR ADJACENT EDGESSECURED TOGETHER BY A HINGE PORTION AND FOLDABLE THEREON INTOOVERLAPPING RELATION, A FOLDABLE FLAP FORMED BY FREE CENTRAL PORTIONS OFSAID SECTIONS ADJACENT SAID HINGE PORTION, AND AN ELASTIC MEANS CARRIEDBY ONE OF SAID SECTIONS AND HAVING A PORTION THEREOF EXTENDING ACROSSSAID ONE SECTION''S CORRESPONDING FOLDABLE FLAP, SAID PORTION OF SAIDELASTIC MEANS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID HINGE PORTION ANDADAPTED TO BE STRETCHED BY THE OUTWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID FLAP IN RESPONSETO THE FOLDING OF SAID SECTIONS.